Burns

Robert Burns

A monochrome photographic print of two direct descendants of Robert Burns, taken at the house where he died.

Jane Emma Burns Brown was the daughter of Robert Burns junior, the poet's eldest son and one of the few members of his family who continued to live in Dumfries. Her daughter, Jean Armour Burns Brown, was said to bear an uncanny resemblance to her famous forebear.

Because of this she became something of a celebrity in her own right, touring in Scotland and North America. She was regularly invited to ceremonies and events associated with Robert Burns and occurs in many photographs from the 1890s onwards until her death in 1937.

This photograph shows mother and daughter on the steps outside Burns House, Dumfries. It was taken shortly after 1903 when the house was let to the Town Council of Dumfries and the room in which the poet died was opened to the public as a small Robert Burns museum. The remainder of the house was was occupied by the Brown family who acted as caretakers.

The identity of the small child in full kilt dress is not known. Jane Emma Burns Brown had no descendants, as her elder daughter had died young and Jean Armour Burns Brown was unmarried. It is likely that this well presented child had been taken to Burns House to have his photograph taken with these two descendants of Robert Burns .